The meaning of SYCOPHANT is a servile self-seeking flatterer : one who praises those in power in order to gain their approval. How to use sycophant in a sentence. A sycophant is a person who praises others to make themselves look better, usually people in powerful positions. It is phonetically similar to the word psycho, but does not carry the connotation of being crazy. What is the definition of 'sycophant?' A sycophant is a person who obsessively flatters someone important to gain advantage. It is a noun that can refer to anyone who tries to take advantage of. In simpler terms, think of a sycophant as that overly eager person who agrees with the boss, flattery at every turn, just to get ahead—even if they don’t genuinely believe what they’re saying. SYCOPHANT meaning: 1. someone who praises powerful or rich people in a way that is not sincere, usually in order to…. Learn more. A sycophant is a person who flatters someone powerful or influential in an insincere way to gain favor, approval, or advantage. It is a negative word, not a neutral one. A sycophant is a person who tries to win favor from wealthy or influential people by flattering them. Also known as brown-nosers, teacher's pets or suck-ups. Sycophant is from Latin sycophanta, from Greek sykophantēs, from sykon fig and phainein to show, make known. SYCOPHANT definition: 1. someone who praises powerful or rich people in a way that is not sincere, usually in order to…. Learn more. SYCOPHANT definition: a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite. See examples of sycophant used in a sentence. sycophant in American English (ˈsɪkəfənt, -ˌfænt, ˈsaikə-) noun a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.